Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-17
CHEAPER TELEah.oux
Senator Cul1om Introduces in tn.
ID q Measure for n Postal TeIepranSYenRte

eEsa Measure for = Postal Telegraph rae
tem-He Also Proaents IS ImpofEs.
Amendments to tho 1nter-state Cohs
merCe Law. sz@-sss2s - ~ 8
WASHINGTON Dec II The Postal Tele-
graph bill Introduced. by Senator Cullom
yesterday establishes the United States
postal telegraph as a part OF the postal
system Of the United States and for the
purpose of inaugurating the system, pro-
[.vided that the following telegraph trunk
Lines shall first be constructed:
One from Washington to Portland Me-, via
Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Camden,
Trenton, Newark, Jersey City. New York,
Brooklyn, New Haven, Hartford, Provi-
dence and Boston; oness from Washing
ton to Minneapolis via Pittsburgh Ceve-
land, Toledo, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison La
Crosse and st. Paul; one from New York City
to Cleveland, O., Albany, Syracuse, Rochester,
Buffalo and Erie, Pa. one from Pittsburgh to
Topeka, Kan, via Columbus, Cincinnati, In
dianapolis, ST. Louis and Kansas City, and
minor towns near the large stiles; one from To-
ledo to Detroit; one from Washington to Gal
weston, via Richmond Charlotte, Columbia,
Augusta, Atlanta, Montgomery and New Or
leans; one from Chicago tosNew Orleans via
Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis
and Vicksburgh; one from Chicago to ST. Louis,
via Peoria and Springfield; one from Chicago
to San Francisco, via Des Motnes, Omaha,
Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Carson City and
other towns en- route, and one from Cheyenne
to Denver.
Postal telegraph Offices are to be opened at
tho places named and at all intermediate
points at which first second or third-class
post-of1ces are established. Branch lines, it
provides, shall be- constructed from time to
time as appropriations therefor are
made by Congress, the intention be-
Ing to connect the lines with all cities where
the postal free delivery system PREVAILS but
no additional facilities arctic be provided in
STATES already connected with the trunk lines
until postal telegraph offices have been estab-
lished in every State and Territory. The sys-
tenn Is to be constructed in straight lines, as
near as practicable, but regard is to be taken
OF cities that will afford the best telegraphic
facilities to the public.
The lines are to be constructed by the engi-
neer CORPS OF the army and then transferred to
the custody Of the Postmaster General The
poles are to be OF iron, the wires of copper, and
all other materials OF the best character Eight
wires are to be strung athe line from New
York to Chicago and four upon other lines.
The Secretary of War is authorized to use the
military service lines Of the United States as
Tar as expedtent and alsofto make oil neces-
sary condemnation OF lands or buildings at q
fair compensation. All disputes as to what is
fair compensation are to be settled BY the
Court at Claims. The Secretary is further au-
oAAoAAAON w SOneGIACIs Jake dlu use Oh ma.
ehinery and devices, net Including telegraph
lines, whether patented or not, as shall b.
deemed necessary, the compensation to be de-
term1ned In the same manner as condemna-
lions OF land. The sums of money necessary
for this purpose are appropriated by the bill.
rate OF 10 cents for each 20 words and s
cents for each additional Is words is fixed for
distances of under 500 miles, and an additional
rate of cents for each $50 miles over 500. A
night rate of IS cents and day rate of rs cents
Is fixed for each 100 words trans
mitted for newspapers, except that where the
same dispatch is dropped .ofr at more than
one office the rates Shall be rs and
% cents, respectively, for each dropped copy.
The office Of director-general of tele2raphs is
created as part of the Post-ofice Department.
1t is made the duty OF the Postmaster General
TO report to Congress after the passage Of the
act plan for the complete organization of the
postal telegraph system, with detailed esti-
mates OF men and money needed. Before the
system Is put into operation and employees Sc
lected examinations are to be held by the Civil
Service Commission to determine the fitness of
applicants. Four million dollars is appropri.
ated for the location and construction of the
telegraph lines providedfby the act
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator. Cullom
chairman of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, has prepared o series OF amend
ments to the Inter State Commerce law
which he presented in the Senate yester-
day. These amendments embody the
most important suggestions that have been
made as to defects in the law, including the
recommendation of the Inter State Com
missioners. The amendments are vol
luminous and are in prolix legal form. Fol-
lowing is synopsis of the more Important
provisions:
!. To extend the provisions of the act so as to
make the act any11V IN ayr
lng-car companies, drawing-room car compa-
nies palace-car companies, stock-car compa-
n1es tank-car companies, and 6 any other aom-
pan1es, associations or persons, furnishing for
public use upon railroads, cars or other in
strumentalities for the transportation of pas
sengers or property This is intended to In.
clude every possible monopoly like the Stand
ard OIL Com pany, which uses the rails.
|, e The words 6 or other carriers are IN
serted twice in the fifth section, so as to pro-
hibit not only pooling between different rail-
roads, but between different railroads and
other carriers, ,.,. sss5
g. In the sixth section, which relates to the
, publication OF rates, the provisions with re-
spect to the advance and. PRODUCTION in rates are
repeated so as to apply specifically to joint
through rates. The short-haul provision ia
also repeated, in order that there shall be no
question that it also applies to joint through
rates. ~ 7'shf so ~
3AS W ti1O SuoiG-udu pFOVlSlOu, III Is pro-
Vlded that where complaint is made against
two or more carriers for violating it and the
violations occur between POINTS on the road Of
one only, that road only shall be held liable
for the violation. 3
8. An addition to section 49, which relates to
compensation for damages, is proposed to the
effect that when complainant is seeking to re-
cover damages the carrier may file with the
commission its consents that the commission
may pass upon the question OF damages. And
tn such case the carrier shall be bound by the
decision OF the commission, and the decision OF
he commission shaMs stand as Judgment,
which may be enforced by execution by
United States Marshal in the same man
ner as judgments OF the United States
Circuit Court are enforced. In case
such assent is not filed, the COM
mission may investigate and report upon
| the subject OF damages, and if it shall report
that the complainant has suffered damages to
specified amount it may name the time for
the payment of such damages; and If the car
rier shall make the payment within the time
named, the sum shah be in full satisfaction OF
any claim the complainant might have under
the actin respect to the grievances complained
Of But If such payment is not made the COM
plainant may proceed in any United States court
OF competent jurisdiction to recover damages
for the wrongs suffered, and such proceedings,
| finding, and report Of the commission shall be
priIa 1acie oVideAcS OF. INC Iact lOund. FRO
vision is also made to take the commission out
Of the jurisdiction Of the Interior Department,
| to make it independent and to require it to re-
| port direct to Congress, as recommended by
the Secretary Of the Interior. The object OF
this change is to make the commission as indie
dendent of any administration as is any United
States court M
UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
50.
Colonel Marshal Mcdonald Tells Of the
Work Done Last Year.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Dec. 14-Colonel Mar
| shall Mcdonald Chief Assistant, to the Tinted